BACKGROUND Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) metabolic profiling quantifies a large number of metabolites. From adolescence, specific metabolites are influenced by age, sex and body mass index; data on early-life metabolic profiles are limited. We investigated associations between sex, birth weight, weight and adiposity with NMR metabolic profile at age 12 months. METHODS The plasma NMR metabolic profile was quantified in infants ( n = 485) from the Barwon Infant Study. Associations between 74 metabolites and sex, birth weight z -score and 12-month measures (weight z -score, skinfold thickness, weight-for-length z -score) were examined using linear regression models. RESULTS Several cholesterol and fatty acid measures were higher (0.2–0.3 SD) in girls than in boys; we observed modest sex-specific associations of birth weight z -scores and 12-month sum of skinfold thicknesses with metabolites. The pattern of associations between weight z -score and weight-for-length z -score with metabolites at 12 months was more pronounced in girls, particularly for fatty acid ratios. CONCLUSIONS We identified sex differences in the infant metabolic profile. Sex-specific patterns observed differ from those reported in older children and adults. We also identified modest cross-sectional associations between anthropometric and adiposity measures and metabolites, some of which were sex specific.

中文翻译：

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与体重和肥胖测量相关的婴儿血液代谢物谱的性别差异

背景核磁共振(NMR)代谢谱量化大量代谢物。从青春期开始，特定代谢物受年龄、性别和体重指数的影响；关于生命早期代谢特征的数据有限。我们调查了性别、出生体重、体重和肥胖与 12 个月大时 NMR 代谢特征之间的关联。方法 对来自 Barwon 婴儿研究的婴儿 (n = 485) 的血浆 NMR 代谢特征进行量化。使用线性回归模型检查了 74 种代谢物与性别、出生体重 z 分数和 12 个月测量值（体重 z 分数、皮褶厚度、身长别体重 z 分数）之间的关联。结果 女孩的一些胆固醇和脂肪酸指标高于男孩（0.2-0.3 SD）；我们观察到出生体重 z 分数和 12 个月皮褶厚度总和与代谢物之间存在适度的性别特异性关联。体重 z 评分和身长别体重 z 评分与 12 个月时代谢物之间的关联模式在女孩中更为明显，尤其是脂肪酸比率。结论 我们确定了婴儿代谢特征的性别差异。观察到的特定性别模式与年龄较大的儿童和成人报告的模式不同。我们还确定了人体测量和肥胖测量以及代谢物之间的适度横断面关联，其中一些具有性别特异性。结论 我们确定了婴儿代谢特征的性别差异。观察到的特定性别模式与年龄较大的儿童和成人报告的模式不同。我们还确定了人体测量和肥胖测量以及代谢物之间的适度横断面关联，其中一些具有性别特异性。结论 我们确定了婴儿代谢特征的性别差异。观察到的特定性别模式与年龄较大的儿童和成人报告的模式不同。我们还确定了人体测量和肥胖测量以及代谢物之间的适度横断面关联，其中一些具有性别特异性。